Bennett backs Latrell to ‘nail it’ at fullback
SOUTHS coach Wayne Bennett has come out swinging at critics of Latrell Mitchell, insisting he will not bow to public pressure to axe him as fullback ahead of tonight’s derby blockbuster with the Roosters.
All eyes will be on Mitchell at Bankwest Stadium, where the under fire NSW State of Origin ace will come face-toface with his former Roosters teammates for the first time since his dramatic departure from Bondi in January.
Mitchell started the season with two poor performances at fullback before becoming embroiled in an off-field social-distancing scandal with Storm star Josh Addo-Carr during the COVID-19 crisis.
Bennett has come under pressure to shift Mitchell to the centre position, where the 22year-old won two titles at the Roosters. “The suggestion I won’t move Latrell because of media criticism is rubbish,” Bennett said.
“Look, if I thought Latrell was best for the team in the centres, I’d put him there, OK, but I don’t think that … I just do what is the right for the team and I believe Latrell is best for the team at fullback.”
Mitchell failed to finish his first two games for the Rabbitohs at fullback. The Australian centre made just four runs for 48m against Cronulla before the Broncos held Mitchell to six runs and 60m in their 22-18 victory a week later.
Despite queries over Mitchell’s aerobic capacity to handle the demands of fullback play, Bennett says he will fire in the No.1 jumper.
“Latrell is the closest thing to Greg Inglis that I have ever seen … he will nail it,” he said.